DEPARTING Saints centre Kevin Naiqama has confirmed he will retire from rugby league - but he signed off on a high note after his two tries helped beat Catalans Dragons 12-10 in the Betfred Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.

In doing so Naiqama won the Harry Sunderland Award as man of the match.

The Fijian test skipper scored the first try of the game in a tight first half and helped give Saints a narrow lead at the break.

In the game of cat and mouse Dragons took the lead again when, with Tommy Makinson in the sin-bin, Mike McMeeken collected a palmed back kick.

However Naiqama won the race to Jonny Lomax's kick to score his second time - which with Lachlan Coote's conversion proved to be the winning score.

Speaking after the game Naiqama said: "I haven't changed my mind. I'm definitely going to miss this team, the staff, the players, the fans, I cannot speak highly enough of the club.

"They have done more for me than I have done for them, it is definitely the right time for me to go home.

"All I wanted to do was do my job and do what we had to do to win, at the end of the day we have got the result and its something that is been building for three years, we're just going to enjoy this and reminisce.

"This is my last game as a professional player, you talk about a fairy-tale ending, you could not have written a better script.

"I think it's time for retirement, but just with Covid and other factors outside of rugby it has led to my decision to go back home."

The 32-year-old was delighted to receive the Harry Sunderland Trophy from Rob Burrow after the game.

"It's an honour to receive it from Rob Burrow himself, he is a true legend of the game who won so much and I was so grateful to meet him and, being the first Fijian player to win the award, I am glad it is something I did," said Naiqama.